Refugee questions subject of third committee scrutiny in November.

Refugee questions subject of Thrid Committee scrutiny in November

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved nine texts relating to refugees, following a wide-ranging discussion of many aspects of that problem, both global and regional, during November. The General Assembly adopted the texts as recommended on 13 December.

By resolution 40/118 adopted without a vote, the General Assembly condemned all violations of the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, particularly those perpetrated by "military or armed attacks" against refugee camps.

The "failure to rescue asylum-seekers in distress at sea" was also condemned, and the Assembly urged States, in co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international bodies, to take "all measures necessary" to ensure the safety of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The Assembly also urged States to support UNHCR's efforts to achieve solutions to the problem of refugees primarily through voluntary repatriation or return, including assistance to returnees or integration of refugees into countries of asylum or resettlement in third countries.

The "fundamental nature" of the High Commissioner's function to provide international protection was reaffirmed, as was the need for Governments to co-operate with UNHCR by "scrupulously observing" the principles of asylum and non-refoulement.

Other resolutions adopted by the Assembly, all without a vote, dealt with the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa; specific situations of returnees, refugees or displaced persons in Chad, Ethiopia, Djibouti, the Sudan and Somalia; assistance to student refugees in southern Africa; and an expression of appreciation to the outgoing High Commissioner.

Poul Hartling, High Commissioner for Refugees, introducing the UNHCR report (A/40/12) in the Third Committee, said that the work of the Office was "entirely non-political" and was guided by genuine humanitarian principles. "We do not work for any State, not for any movement, not for any ideology. We work for the refugee, for the human being, for the individual," he said.

UNHCR must enjoy the confidence and trust of all States, Mr. Hartling told the Committee. The fact that the Office was receiving $500 million a year in voluntary contributions from about 100 countries, proved that it enjoyed the confidence of donor countries. If the Office lost credibility, its work for refugees would not receive the necessary funds.

Other action: By resolution 40/117, the international community was urged to maintain the momentum created by the Second International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa (Geneva, 9-11 July 1984) and to translate into reality the goals set out in the Declaration and Programme of Action agreed on by the Conference.

The Assembly emphasized the "vital importance" of the complementarity of refugee aid and development assistance and of achieving durable solutions to the problems of refugees on that continent, and requested the High Commissioner to continue to keep the situation of refugees in Africa under review so as to ensure that adequate assistance is available for care and for bringing about durable solutions.

Some texts addressed individual situations in African countries. By resolution 40/135, the Assembly expressed "grave concern" at the shrinking resources available for refugee programmers in the Sudan and the "serious consequences" of continuing to host and provide assistance to the increasing number of refugees. The Secretary-General was asked to send a high-level inter-agency mission to assess the magnitude of assistance required for refugee programmes there, as well as the impact of the refugees on the economy and vital public services, with a view to preparing a comprehensive programme of assistance.

In two other texts, the Assembly appealed to Member States, international organizations and voluntary agencies to render maximum material, financial and technical assistance Somalia in its efforts to provide assistance to refugees (resolution 40/132) and to Ethiopia in its efforts to provide relief and rehabilitation to displaced persons, voluntary returnees and refugees in that country (resolution 40/133).

In resolution 40/134, the Assembly called for humanitarian assistance to refugees in Djibouti by urging the High Commissioner to continue to take measures to ensure that lasting solutions would be implemented to assist those refugees. Efforts were to be made to mobilize the necessary assistance to enable the Government to cope effectively with the refugee problem which has been "aggravated by the debilitating effects of the prolonged drought".

The Assembly also called on the High Commissioner to work towards mobilizing emergency assistance to returnees and displaced persons in Chad (resolution 40/136). All states and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations were asked to support by "generous contributions" the efforts being made by that Government to assist and resettle the voluntary returnees and displaced persons.

The Assembly requested the High Commissioner, in co-operation with the Secretary-General, to continue to organize and implement an effective programme of educational and other appropriate assistance for student refugees from Namibia and South Africa who have been granted asylum in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia. Member States and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations were urged to continue contributing generously to the assistance programme for student refugees (resolution 40/138).

Other reports: The major report before the Committee was the UNHCR report, which described the Office's effort to find solutions to refugee problems amidst seriously deteriorating conditions, particularly in Africa. The promotion of refugee self-reliance projects was emphasized. Care and maintenance programmes should be continued where solutions could not be immediately attained, the report stated.

Major assistance programmes continued in Pakistan, host to the world's largest refugee population; in South-East Asia, for Indochinese refugees; and in Somalia and the Sudan. Between November 1984 and February 1985, the High Commissioner made special appeals for African refugees.

UNHCR promoted voluntary repatriation movements--from Thailand...